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Reesheda Graham Washington, the keynote speaker at this year’s multi-faith Thanksgiving service organized by the Community of Congregations and held Sunday night on Facebook Live, urged nearly 100 attendees to pattern their lives after Jesus. “How might we get curious about living a more abundant life?” asked the serial entrepreneur who operates Live Café in Oak Park.
An empty and under-utilized lot is being transformed into a vibrant space for residents and businesses to set up shop and relax. Once finished, the lot will have a basketball court, a plaza for pop-up markets, a lawn for seating, a spot for food trucks and a mural painted by local artists.
City health officials are advising that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot this year. The Chicago Department of Public Health has relaunched the Chicago Flu Vaccine Finder, a web-based app that shows where you can get a flu shot. In Austin residents can go to one of two Walgreens, one at 5222 W. Madison St. and the other at 1546 N. Central Ave.
Turkeys will be distributed on a first come, first served basis starting at 11 a.m. Nov. 23 at 5713 W. Chicago Ave.; and beginning at 12 p.m. at Michele Clark High School, 5101 W. Harrison St., and 5744 W. Chicago Ave. If you aren’t able to stop by one of the Austin sites during these times, turkeys are being distributed elsewhere throughout the city.
A “no shave” in November event will bring men together to talk about their health while raising awareness about cancer. Stop by AJ Styles Beauty & Barber Salon, 6624 W. North Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22. Also this month, uninsured and underinsured Austin residents can get a free prostate screening at Loretto Hospital.
Elementary school LSC elections are Nov. 18, and high school LSC elections are Nov. 19. In-person polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Local school councils — made up of parents, students and community members that can make school budget and principal hiring decisions — were once seen as a bastion of school-level democracy, according to Block Club Chicago.
Last week’s meeting, held via Zoom was the second of two “community conversations” the Chicago Police Department is holding as it crafts a strategic plan for 2021. Each district is coming up with a plan as part of the consent decree the department signed in March 2019 with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Antonia “Toni” Ruppert, an Austin native, has been selected as the neighborhood’s artist in residence. The new city program, under INVEST South/West, will place artists in four communities throughout the city.
Saturday’s virtual workforce readiness festival is being held in collaboration with Mi Casa Holiday, Your Passion 1st and BUILD. The goal is to get young creatives – ages 15 to 24 – in touch with industry professionals and cultivating their passions. There will be limited seating at the event, which will also be streamed on the app MeetAppGo.
The Loretto Hospital is offering free prostate cancer screenings for uninsured or underinsured men living in Austin and surrounding communities throughout the month. For more information or to schedule a screening, call (833) TLH-LOVE.